Water wings



July 10, 1928. 1,677,083

J. R. HEMINGER wusx wmes Filed Jan. 16, 1926 JOfiLEHEmI/ggcr mwmm 40 bladder of a foot ball or the like.

Patented July 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOEL ROBERT HEMINGER, OF AKRON, OHIO.

WATER WINGS.

Application filed January 16, 1926. Serial No. 81,754.

This invention relates to a device of that type better known as water wings, oneof the objects of the invention being to provide floats having means for detachably connecting the same whereby they can be properly held with relation to the body of the user while in the water, said floats being detachably fastened to theconnection so that either or both of them can be used as balls by persons engaged in sports on the beach or in the water.

A furtherobject is to provide a device of this character which is reliable and can be applied readily.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invent-ion resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invent-ion herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device in use.

Figure 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in section.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the cover of a ball the same being formed of any strong material such as canvas, leather or the like and having a slit 2 therein adapted to be closed by means of a lace 3. lVithin this cover is housed bladder 4 of rubber or the like adapted to be inflated in the same manner as the Thereafter the cover 1 in which the bladder has been placed prior to inflation, is closed by means of the lace 3 and the ball thus pro duced is ready for use.

Each complete device includes two of these balls and each ball is provided at one point on its surface with a small ring 5 which can be attached to the cover 1 by any suitable means. A breast strap 6 is employed and to each end of this strap is connected a snap hook 7 or other suitable means whereby the ends of the strap can be attached to the respective rings .5. The strap 6 is of such length that when it is placed across the chest of the user the two balls will be located back of the sides of the body so that the arms of the user can be brought down in frontof them. Consequently, while the user is in the water, these balls will constitute wings or floats for supporting the person on the surface of the water. When the device is not in use for sustaining a person in a body of water the strap 6 can be detached from the rings 5 and the inflated balls can be used in the sports in the water and on the beach.

It will be understood of course that by deflating the balls the same can be readily carried in a pocketor in a small package.

Obviously the breast strap can be adjusted so as to vary the distance between the balls. Thus the device can be adapted for use by persons of different sizes.

\Vhat is claimed is:

i A device of the class described including a pair of spherical covers of flexible material each having a smooth outer surface, there being a slit in each cover, an inflatable bladder inserta-ble through the slit into each cover, means for drawing together the edges of the slit to close the cover and fully eonceal and protect the bladder, a ring fixedly attached to each cover at a point substantially diametrically opposite the slits therein, a flexible breast strap, means at one end of the strap for detachably engaging one of the rings, and means adjust-ably connected to the other end of the strap for detachably engaging the other ring, said strap being adj ustable to hold the coversat different distances apart, each cover with the inflated lfilladder therein, constituting a spherical oat.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

JOEL ROBERT HEMINGER. 

